Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  01/05/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My ******** plus our three children were residents of Somerset @ Lakeland since November 2020. We relocated to ********* from ************ because I was hired on the ******* **************** Somerset @ Lakeland refused to renew our 2022-2023 lease citing we had been late with rent payments twice. I explained the unintentional circumstances, but was told I needed to vacate the premises by 12/31/2022. I was told "it is their policy that if anyone is late with rent twice, their lease will not be renewed." When I asked if an exception could be made because my daughter suffers from a chronic illness and we basically being forced to move during the Holidays, I was told "COVID is over and we do not have to honor such requests anymore."While going back and forth with moving our belongings from the apartment to our new residence, we discovered that our unit was flooded by a pipe that burst from the recent cold freeze in December 2022 in the apartment above us. When we entered our apartment on December 26th to retrieve the remainder of our belongings, the unit was in shambles. There was water visibly leaking in the bathroom; the carpets were partially removed, while the remainder of the carpets were water soaked through and through. We walked to the upstairs units to see what was going on and they were empty and demolished with the doors wide open.Now Somerset @ Lakeland is advising that we owe almost $2500 in damages. Based on their "Move Out" statement, Somerset is billing us for these damages on 12/29/22; however, we had until 12/31/22 to vacate. How can that be? They are attempting to hold us liable for replacing property that were damaged by the bursting pipes; threatening us with collection activity if we do not pay. My ******** wholeheartedly disagree with this assessment. We are not liable for damages caused by a pipe bursting. Furthermore, how can they differentiate normal wear and tear to an apartment by occupying it for two years from damages caused by burst pipe, for which they will receive an insurance settlement?

  Business response

  01/06/2023

  Mr. and ********************* were not charged for the water damage due to pipes bursting. They were charged for the damage to the carpet/pad/sealing the subfloor due to their large dogs urinating in several different spots in their 3 bedroom apartment. They were late on rent 4 times and bounced 2 of their rental payments. Company policy is that we will not renew anyone that has been late more than 3 times and/or have bounced 2 payments. Their balance was so high due to them not paying their December rent at all. Attached is proof of late payments, proof of NSF payments, and their Final Account Statement. Thank you

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